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Comparison of Snowflake vs. Oracle 2024: Which Data Warehouse is Best for You?

This article compares the two most popular data warehouse solutions - Snowflake and Oracle. It covers their key features, benefits, and drawbacks, to help people choose the right one for your business needs.

August 23, 2021
2 mins read

Snowflake and Oracle are two of the most popular names when it comes to data warehouses. They have everything that a modern data warehouse needs: they’re fast, scalable, and can handle massive amounts of data. But which one is better? In this article, we're going to compare the two platforms to help you decide which one is right for your business.

You should be aware of a few key differences between Snowflake and Oracle before deciding which data warehouse to use. First, Snowflake is a true cloud-based solution, while Oracle offers a hybrid cloud option. 

This means that Snowflake is more flexible in terms of deployment and can be scaled up or down as needed, while Oracle may be a better option if you have data that needs to reside on-premise for security or compliance reasons.

Second, Snowflake uses a completely different architecture than Oracle, which means it can handle data in a more efficient and flexible way. Snowflake is able to automatically optimize queries for performance, while Oracle requires manual tuning.

Finally, pricing is also a key difference between the two data warehouses. Snowflake charges by the amount of data used, while Oracle charges by the hour. 

Meaning Snowflake can be more expensive for organizations that have a large amount of data, while Oracle may be more expensive for organizations that make heavy use of their data warehouse.

Overall, each data warehouse has its own strengths and weaknesses. The best way to decide which one is right for your organization is to evaluate your specific needs and requirements. 

Snowflake may be the better option if you need a true cloud solution that can be easily scaled. However, if you have data that needs to remain on-premise or requires manual tuning for performance, Oracle may be the better choice.

Snowflake

Snowflake is a cloud-based data warehouse service offering a unique data storage and analysis approach. Rather than using traditional relational databases, Snowflake uses a “columnar” approach that allows for more efficient data storage and retrieval. In addition, Snowflake’s built-in analytics capabilities make it easy to perform complex data analysis without the need for specialized skills or software. 

As a result, Snowflake is well-suited for organizations that need to quickly and easily analyze large amounts of data. Snowflake's pay-as-you-go pricing model makes it very cost-effective for businesses of all sizes.

Oracle

An Oracle data warehouse is a relational database management system (RDBMS) optimized for storing and retrieving large amounts of data. Data warehouses are typically used for business intelligence applications, such as reporting and data analysis. 

Oracle databases are often used as data warehouses because they are reliable and scalable. The Oracle RDBMS can be run on a variety of hardware platforms, making it a versatile option for businesses. 

In addition, the Oracle database offers several features ideal for data warehousings, such as support for OLAP and data mining.

Comparing Snowflake Vs Oracle

When comparing Snowflake Vs Oracle, there are a few key factors to consider:-

  • Ease of Use
  • Time Era and Paradigm
  • Solution Strategy
  • Features
  • Data Security

Ease of Use

When it comes to ease of use, Snowflake has a clear advantage over Oracle. Snowflake automatically applies upgrades, fixes, and security features, which reduces the workload for users. In contrast, Oracle typically requires a database administrator to manage these tasks, which can add to the overall cost of data warehousing. 

When it comes to scalability, Snowflake also has an edge over Oracle. Snowflake data warehouse automatically manages partitioning, indexing, and other data management tasks, whereas Oracle usually requires a database administrator to execute any scalability-related changes. 

Therefore, when comparing Snowflake vs. Oracle, these factors should be taken into account.

Example:

When comparing Snowflake Vs Oracle, the ease of use is an important factor to consider. Snowflake is designed to be easy to use and manage, while Oracle usually requires a database administrator and manual tuning for performance.

For example, when scaling a data warehouse on Snowflake, it can automatically optimize queries for better performance. In contrast, Oracle usually requires manual optimization. Additionally, Snowflake's pay-as-you-go pricing model makes it very cost-effective for businesses of all sizes.

Time Era and Paradigm

Oracle was introduced in an era when memory was very expensive and scarce. Most commercial programs at that time used a lot of their code to manage memory. 

Snowflake was introduced in an era where memory is much cheaper, and computing hardware is much more powerful. Most commercial programs today make use of cloud computing to serve complex computing needs. So basically, Oracle is more like an on-premise monolith, whereas snowflake is a cloud-based scalable offering.

Example:

When comparing Snowflake Vs Oracle, it's important to consider the time, era, and paradigm of each platform. For example, Snowflake's data warehouse can scale up or down on demand due to its elasticity and scalability. 

Oracle, on the other hand, requires manual tuning for performance and scalability. This can be costly for businesses of any size. Additionally, Snowflake's pay-as-you-go pricing model makes it very cost-effective. Therefore, when considering Snowflake vs Oracle, these factors should be taken into account.

Solution Strategy

As the world has become more digitized, the need for flexible and intelligent data management solutions has increased. Snowflake is a modern software that is designed to handle various types of data and perform powerful analytics. With Snowflake, companies can gain valuable insights into their business processes. 

Oracle was developed initially when computer applications and usages were well structured and limited in scope. However, today's computer needs are much more diverse and complex. Snowflake is a more comprehensive solution that can meet the needs of today's businesses.

Example:

Snowflake vs Oracle solution strategy is a comparison of the two software solutions to determine which is best suited for a particular business. 

For example, Snowflake offers scalability, easy deployment, and cost-effectiveness, while Oracle provides advanced analytics capabilities with customizable SQL scripts.

Another essential aspect to consider when deciding between the two solutions is the data architecture. Snowflake allows for a shared data warehouse, which simplifies data management and eliminates the need for separate databases. 

Additionally, its cloud-based architecture is able to handle large amounts of data in real-time.

Features

When it comes to features, Snowflake and Oracle offer different advantages. Oracle lets you build and run machine learning algorithms inside its warehouse, which can be extremely helpful for your analytical objectives.

However, Snowflake does not have this capability, requiring users to invest in a stand-alone machine-learning platform to run algorithms. Oracle also offers support for cursors, making it simple to program data. 

On the other hand, Snowflake comes with an integrated automatic query performance optimization feature that makes it easy to query data without having to fiddle with too many settings. This can be a big time-saver for users who just want to get their work done without spending a lot of time configuring things.

Example:

To exemplify, Oracle's database management system helps organizations manage data more efficiently by providing a platform for storing and retrieving information. Additionally, it offers automatic query performance optimization to optimize queries without manual intervention.

Snowflake, on the other hand, is designed to be a “data lake” that can store and analyze data from multiple sources. It offers a cloud-based architecture that makes it easy to scale and deploy quickly. Additionally, Snowflake features an integrated query optimizer that can automatically optimize queries for better performance.

Finally, Oracle has built-in analytics capabilities that allow users to perform advanced analysis on their data. This includes predictive analytics, clustering analysis, descriptive analytics,

Data Security

Both Snowflake and Oracle offer robust data security features. Snowflake uses a multi-layered approach to security, with features such as data encryption, role-based access control, and auditing. 

Oracle also offers similar features, such as data encryption, fine-grained access control, and activity monitoring. Therefore, when it comes to data security, both Snowflake and Oracle are equally safe choices for your data warehouse.

Example:

When it comes to data security, both Snowflake and Oracle are equally safe choices for your data warehouse.

Snowflake offers a multi-layered approach to security, with features such as encryption of data at rest and in transit, role-based access control, secure view creation/administration, audit logging of all DDL and DML activities, and secure login/authentication techniques, while Oracle also offers similar features, such as data encryption, fine-grained access control (including row-level security), activity monitoring, audit trails of all activity in the database, and secure authentication mechanisms.

Understanding Oracle Exadata

Exadata is a cloud-based data warehouse service offered by Oracle. It is claimed to be the fastest database machine on the cloud and offers business intelligence capabilities. 

Exadata's Autonomous Data Warehouse software delivers exceptional performance in data warehousing, allowing mixed workloads like OLTP/OLAP to run with analytical databases while delivering more excellent performance, scalability, security, and data protection. 

It can drastically reduce manpower costs and the costs incurred in scaling up an on-premise data center. It offers a unique mix of on-premise control and public cloud flexibility, thereby allowing legacy systems to collaborate with the cloud. 

If your existing data stack already has Oracle databases, Exadata could be the answer to your database and warehousing needs.

Simplify Snowflake and Oracle with Boltic's No-code Data Pipeline:

Boltic is a no-code data pipeline that allows users to easily integrate Snowflake and Oracle without writing a single line of code. Our intuitive interface makes it easy to quickly build, deploy, and maintain an end-to-end data flow from any source to any destination.

With our zero-coding platform, you can quickly design real-time data pipelines that replicate data between your Oracle and Snowflake data warehouses. To make certain that info is updated between the two systems, we have a real-time data synchronization feature.

This allows users to see changes happening in both systems as they occur. You can also automate everyday tasks related to your data integration, such as scheduling and running pipelines, monitoring data quality, and generating alerts.

With Boltic, you get the power of a fully-featured ETL tool without any of the complexity or overhead associated with coding. Our platform also provides a unified view of your data, making it easier to unlock the insights you need to make informed decisions.

Combined with our no-code development platform, this allows organizations to make data-driven decisions quickly and efficiently. Our platform is designed to be secure, reliable, and scalable to meet the needs of any business.

Check out some of the features of Boltic:
  • 100% Complete & Accurate Data Transfer: Boltic is a fully managed platform that offers complete and accurate data transfer with zero downtime.
  • No Coding Required: Boltic requires no coding, making it easy to use for everyone.
  • Faster Data Ingestion: Boltic's high-performance architecture ensures faster data ingestion.
  • Real-time Data Synchronization: Boltic synchronizes data in real time, so you always have the most up-to-date data.
  • Unlimited Scale: Boltic can scale to any size without any performance degradation.
  • 24/7 Support: Our team is always available to help you solve any issues you have.
  • Schema Management: Boltic offers schema management, so you can easily change your data structure without having to worry about breaking your pipelines.
  • Live Monitoring: Boltic offers live monitoring, so you can keep an eye on your data pipelines and the performance of your pipelines in real-time.
Try Boltic Data today and see how easy it is to use!

Conclusion:

Both Snowflake and Oracle offer their own unique set of pros and cons. It is essential to understand your specific needs and objectives before choosing between the two. With the help of Boltic, you can easily migrate your data from Oracle to Snowflake without any hassle. 

Our easy-to-use platform is perfect for businesses that want to operationalise their data without having to deal with the hassle of coding. Boltic was designed keeping in mind the needs of modern businesses, and we're confident that our platform can help you get the most out of your data warehouse. 

Try our free plan today to see how Boltic can help you save time and money.

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